She hurriedly cut off his words.

“Don’t talk about weird things!”

In the end, she interpreted it that way. Cassel had a woman he loved, and she did not go to the graduation in that sense. So, even though she was swayed by him, Leilia did not want to try anything.

ﾟ･ : * ✧ * :･ ﾟ

Cowell was looking at the paper with the event written on it. Since yesterday’s event announcements were posted all over the capital, so he was aware of it.

“You were invited to an event?”

After reading the paper, he glanced up at Leilia, who was standing right in front of him, and asked with the corner of his mouth raised up.

“Are you just wasting your father’s busy time with these kinds of things?”

She knew things would come out like this. Leilia smiled bitterly when she saw her father, who did not like her going to the academy.

“I have to make a decision quickly. And, I want to go to the academy after a long time as well.”

“This is…”

Alesha failed the Roellon Academy exams and could not attend the academy. As it was difficult for nobles to enter the academy, therefore, it was an honor for any noble family just to enter the academy since they were selected by skills, not just their social status.

“You’ve been doing useless things.”

Cowell stared at her with frosty eyes. In his mind, he was thinking of her, who went to the academy, while Alesha failed and did not even get the chance to attend.

“Don’t you feel sorry for your sister?”

Continuing his words coldly, he handed her the paper back, “I’ll allow you to go. However, I can’t afford a single escort.”

…In the end, it meant not to go.

Nevertheless, Leilia had no intention of obeying his words.

“All right.”

After bowing her head, she stepped out of the room. As she left, Cowell frowned as he stared at his daughter’s back.

“All she had to do was stay home quietly.”

Even though he was exerting subtle indications of not letting her go, she still said that she would be going.

“I can’t wait to get rid of that child.”

However, if Leilia would get married and moved away, a lot of the wealth would escape along with her as well. Consequently, if that happened, it would become difficult for Alesha to marry the duke whom she had been seeing.

As he thought so, Cowell clenched his fist.

…It was still time to put up with her.

ﾟ･ : * ✧ * :･ ﾟ

Cassel, who was alone in the academy’s men’s dormitory, silently stroked the sword Leilia had given him.

⌊ ‘Congratulations on your graduation.’ ⌉

It was her gift that came with a letter.

Although the meeting with her was brief, it left a strong impression on him.

‘…I know she doesn’t love me.’

Nonetheless, she still smiled sweetly at him… That was enough.

“It really is, right now.”

His heart fluttered.

The desire to be close to her, the desire to be close to her, from the time he met her in her childhood, was creeping closer every moment.

Leilia did not know his heart yet. Regardless, it did not matter if she didn’t know. It was because he could get closer to her little by little Cassel thought so and glanced at the sword with a smile. Though his smile faded a little when he glanced at another letter that he had just received recently without saying a word.

⌊ ‘I’ll give you anything you want.’ ⌉

Even though the letter said so, he had no intention of responding to it. His father’s sudden presence was not pleasant. All he wanted was Leilia, and it was enough to just look at her from his side.

That was how he comforted his heart.

Of course, it did not take long for him to change his mind. However, Cassel was unaware of the future to come.

ﾟ･ : * ✧ * :･ ﾟ

It was finally the day of the academy graduation. While the sun seemed to be unusually warm today, the wind was not cold, so the weather seemed all right.

Leilia asked herself.

‘…Why are you so excited?’

He already has someone he loves.

Still, there was no way to stop her excitement. Somehow, the usual weather seemed different just because she was going to meet him.

Leaving the mansion with light clothes, when the carriage arrived at the meeting point, Leilia got off with her luggage. Cowell really did not assign her one of the escort knights on her way to the academy. Although she knew that and had prepared her own escort knight from the association, she never knew it would be of such use.

‘Seriously…’

Her father’s consistency was to be known.

“Welcome.”

There, Lucis, who was in charge of the event, was welcoming guests who had previously applied for participation early on.

As Leilia looked at him and greeted, Lucis checked her name on the list. Even though they met each other often, they acted as if they were seeing each other for the first time. That was because it was inevitable to hide her identity.

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